My crazy Russian Neighbour in Moscow!

I love walking around the neighbourhood I live in

At first when I moved to Moscow I lived alone in my old Soviet flat for 3 weeks before I eventually got a flat mate. I was busy settling in, getting to know the area and spent a lot of evenings at home watching a bit of TV and studying some Russian after walking around the neighbourhood. Most nights I went to bet quite late and then my neighbour from downstairs would bang against my floor with something.

Apartment buildings in my neighbourhood

This scared me a bit so I tried not to make noise and was really quiet; I made certain that my music was turned down low but still most of the time he would bang as I was getting into bed. According to me I gave him no reason to complain.

Scarcely here for a week and one night after getting into bed the neighbour comes and bangs on my door, shouting and nearly breaking down my door. I thought someone was attacking me! I ran into the kitchen and got the biggest chopping knife I could find. I then called the school emergency number but there wasn’t much they could do so I ended up sitting on my bed with a huge chopping knife as my defense, listening to the crazy Russian guy shouting stuff at me and hoping that the door holds. At the time I didn’t know who he was or why he was trying to break down my door.

A little church I found hidden behind some apartment blocks while out walking

He gave up after half an hour and stomped off, but I didn’t get any sleep that night as I was scared he would actually come back.

Not even a week later a policeman came and banged on my door, while I was already in bed half asleep, shouting that I should open up otherwise he would break down my door. I was told never to open the door, even for a cop in Moscow so wasn’t planning on doing anything of the kind. I kept asking him what he wants, all he kept shouting was “I don’t speak English, you open door or I break it!” Really not something I want to hear while in my Pajamas and all alone in this old flat on the other side of the world. Again I called the work emergency number and this time they called the police for me. The policeman kept on banging and shouting and finally he got a phone call and then left. I was left all jumpy and scared, had the huge chopping knife as bed buddy yet again.

More apartment blocks

The housing administrator called the police the next morning and they explained to her that it was my neighbour complaining about me because I walking around in my flat and according to him I walk like an elephant which makes his chandelier below swing so he called the police on me. I couldn’t believe it; it was too ridiculous to be taken seriously.

My apartment complex

At least after this I got a flat mate who could speak a bit of Russian. The neighbour started calling us on the phone complaining every time we walked around, or moved in the flat. This banging on the door in the middle of the night and calling us kept up for a while, He actually asked us to please watch where we walk and to make sure we don’t walk over the area where his chandelier is, as if we could see through the floor.

He also suggested that if this is not possible that we should please refrain from walking in our flat. So not only does he expect us to have ex-ray vision, we should also miraculously acquire the ability to float or fly.

Lovely wall art along the way

One evening I ran to pick up the phone and was busy talking to my mom when the neighbour came banging again. He actually banged the door open and charged into the kitchen shouting at me. I put down the phone, picked up that huge chopping knife lying next to the sink and then charged at him. He shouted and looked as if he was going to attack me.

I shouted back at him and in my anger switched over to some Afrikaans words that I knew he would not be able to understand. I then made stabbing motions at him; I just wanted to get him out of my flat.

My neighbourhood

He left screaming that I was crazy and that he was going to call the police because I attacked him!

The nerve, I told him to please call the police I want to tell them he broke in and attacked ME!

My neighbour left me alone after this; I never heard another peep out of him! I think he was convinced that he had one VERY crazy South-African living up stairs, and was not going to get her mad again.

Like this:

Related

Published by janaline's world journey

I am addicted to travelling and have been exploring the world for nearly two decades. Here I share my travel stories and pictures so that you can share in some of the amazing experiences I have along the way. When you travel you experience the culture and get to know the people of a country. Once you step out of your comfortzone you get to know the real country and experience it in a different way than ordinary tourists. My camera usually accompanies me everywhere I go so you can "see" and read about my journeys.
View all posts by janaline's world journey

46 comments

While a frightening story indeed, I have to admit I was very interested in your pics of the neighborhood. I visited St. P during my exchange year in Finland. My Finnish friends, who were living there for the summer, took me. We stayed at the apartment still owned by the parents of the boyfriend of one of my friends. I loved the neighborhood, especially all the highrises, the crumbling grocery store a few minutes away, and the abandoned cars.

What a crazy story! I don’t know how someone could keep a straight face and insist you not walk around your flat. Good thing you didn’t open up for the Moscow police. I wouldn’t either. Fantastic pictures as always.

I heard that before us a couple of guys lived there so he was probably to scared to mess with them. Think he thought that a couple of girls should feel intimidated by him. Don’t think he is ever going to make that mistake again!!

Follow me on Twitter

Copyrighted. All images and rights are reserved by Janaline Smalman. You are welcome to post in a link. Please contact me to request permission for download or commerical use. If you have any questions, just send me an email.